- Some minor corrections.- Uploaded Mint theme again, fixed a problem: nothing appearing when setting resolution to 1024x768 due to a mistake in config file. - Found what was making kernel packages so big: debug files. Now, you will only need about ~800 MB and your kernel package will be much more small (about 25-30 MB). - Now it's easier, just install and configure. Added .deb packages for Felicia, working on packages for Elyssa.

UPDATE 2 (22/01/2009):

- Added .deb packages for Elyssa.

Do you want your framebuffer consoles to look like this? (The first screenshot looks like what you'll have on boot, in replacement of usplash)

Then, this is your howto. There are two ways: one is easy and funny, the other is a bit more complicated and can be very frustrating...but you can learn some things about kernels . Anyway, both methods work. Choose whatever you want.

DISCLAIMER: I'm not responsible if anything happens to your installation, computer and/or hamster while following this guide. Just in case...

As always, credits are not for me. I've just mixed some how-to's Credits go to spock for creating and maintaining this awesome kernel patch, and for all the people working with him. Also, credits for Jean-Damien Durand for porting fbcondecor to Debian. And also for anyone I've missed to mention.

- "I'll take the blue pill. I don't want to patch or compile anything."

It's a bit long, but it is very easy. This guide will help you patch and compile a custom kernel with fbcondecor support, but with Mint/Ubuntu default configuration. So, we are not going to re-compile a kernel from scratch nor building a custom configuration. Feel free to do on your own.

WARNING: You'll need ~800MB (> 4GB if you keep using debug files) of free disk space for compiling kernel. Please, check that you have enough space on your root partition. If you have a separated /boot partition, you'll need also some additional space there for the custom kernel.

This howto is compatible with (and has been tested on) Elyssa and Felicia. But it should work with future releases as well as with past ones, choosing the correct fbcondecor patch from spock's website.

Ok, let's go! (Filenames are for reference, they could be different on your system depending on your configuration).

1. First of all, we'll need some packages (build-essential should come installed by default)...

7. Ok. Now, the scary part (you can also use my .config file for Felicia, or the one for Elyssa, and go straight to step 11). We need to disable all these options, look for them on .config. Open it with your favourite text editor and do a search for every option. Replace the line from the left with the line from the right.

CONFIG_FB_S3=m -> # CONFIG_FB_S3 is not setCONFIG_FB_VT8623=m -> # CONFIG_FB_VT8623 is not setCONFIG_FB_ARK=m -> # CONFIG_FB_ARK is not setCONFIG_TILEBLITTING=y -> # CONFIG_TILEBLITTING is not set

Search for all the lines containing "DEBUG", and modify them the same way. Otherwise, your kernel source directory will grow up to > 4 GB, and you will have a ~270 MB kernel .deb.

Controls: Up/Down to move, Enter to select a sub-menu (a sub-menu is marked with ->>), left/right to move between "Select", "Exit" and "Help" buttons, Esc to go back one menu, Y to get the option selected built-in on the kernel, N to kept the option out of the kernel, M to build it as a module, ? to see Help).

Go to Device Drivers –> Graphics support –> Support for frame buffer devices –> VESA VGA graphics support, and press Y to activate it. You'll see the [M] from the left change to [*]

Once with "Framebuffer Console support" selected, press Y. You'll see the [M] change to [*], and a new option appearing.

10. Go to the new option, "Support for the Framebuffer Console Decorations", and press Y.

We're done here. Press Esc until it asks you to save the new configuration. Select Yes, and press Enter.

11. Compile the custom kernel. On a Core 2 Duo, this takes about 1-1.5 hours...4-5 for an old Pentium III. Go out for a walk or something while your computer finishes the hard work for you. At the end, you'll have a .deb package, this is the Debian way of doing things. Isn't it great?

Note: Kernel headers will became useful if you need to compile modules for some reason (atheros wireless driver for instance). I don't know if we need kernel source, but creating it does not require a lot of time (compared to the kernel itself).

15b. If you like the screenshots up there, it's a custom theme made by me. It only supports 800x600 and 1024x768, but it can support other resolutions with some minor tweaks, just ask for them . You can download it here

Maintain your main entry, just in case. If your custom kernel is not able to boot, or if it puts your screen blank...you know, accidents happen Anyway, you can use a LiveCD to restore almost whatever that has been messed up.

Add splash=silent,fadein,theme:theme_name quiet CONSOLE=/dev/tty1 vga=789 to the kernel line. It will look like this. Replace theme_name with the name of the folder containing your favourite theme (if it's on /etc/splash/Mint, then replace theme_name with Mint).

17. This will make fbsplash appear just when udev finishes with a resolution of 800x600 and 24-bit colour. If you want 1024x768, use vga=792...Otherwise, there are tables out there with all the vga= possibilities.You can also use vesafb or uvesafb, check jdd's tutorial (link below).

This will add all your themes to your initrd.img, so fbsplash can use them before mounting your root partition. If you just want to add one theme, replace "--all" with the name of the theme. For example:

Husse wrote:All this just to get some nicer looks when you boot - ah also TTY1 through 6

It's not only when you boot, the backgrounds on ttys stay there. I spend much time on them, and the standard black is very tiring for my eyes.

Anyway, you only have to do this once per kernel. I mean that I think the .deb package can be used on other computers. To tell the truth I would like to upload the .deb, but mine is huge and I don't know why. Also, this way people doesn't have to think if my packages are trustworthy or not.

If anybody knows why my kernel package is about 270 mb and/or a way to reduce it, I wouldn't mind to upload it.

Well, I decided to go on ahead with the step 8 onwards.. (Well, if 4 GB is the price to pay for a cool looking console.. I'll pay it.. ) But I get stuck again.. No menu option with the name:" Console Decorations" gets enabled.. Did I patch it wrong? Should I run the patch from inside the source directory?Let me try and see..

I need help with decoration ideas for a old timey country party.? We are having a party for my moms birthday. We have researched 50th bday themes and found a new one. "Geniunely Antique". Seeing as to how we are having the party outside in the country, we thought this would be perfect. Now we're stuck on decoration ideas. Please help. We have thought about lanterns and candles in metal tins for center pieces on the tables. Rocking chairs set up with checker board games, and thats about it. We need outdoor lights, games, food, etc. Please send all ideas.___________________market samurai ~ marketsamurai ~ marketsamurai.com

Probably did a Google search for "decorations" and somehow it gave this link...... still very odd, since I did a Google search and didn't come up with anything for Mint or Linux on the first couple of pages.

EDIT: I did try "console decorations" in Google, and this thread was the first search result that came up. I still don't see how this person would be searching for Console Decorations.

It's perfectly OK to express an opinion, but refrain from foul and stupid language - Husse

@ dlkreationsYour comment made me wonder - and yes you have a console as some architectural element and a table (not a spread sheet taable ) so it seems to have been decorations for that kind of console she was looking for (how consoling )http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/console